RoadVitals

2018 Subaru Outback Other / unspecified Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the other system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Other / unspecified reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Jul 23, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
1%
of 807 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2018 Subaru Outback submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming other

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Other / unspecified
Filed Jul 23, 2024

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Outback. The contact stated upon inspecting the vehicle, he noticed all 4 wheels showed signs of cracks on the rims and spokes. The low-pressure tire warning light had illuminated. In addition, all tires required air frequently. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.

NHTSA ID
11604022
Incident
Jul 23, 2024
Mileage
84,000 mi
ElectricalOther / unspecified
Filed Sep 25, 2022

Battery failed and had to be replaced Wheel Bearing replacement

NHTSA ID
11486297
Incident
Jun 19, 2022
Other / unspecified
Filed Nov 27, 2021
Crash reported

I was in an accident 11/26 and would need to replace my care seat

NHTSA ID
11441824
Incident
Nov 26, 2021
Other / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Jun 9, 2021

My wife and I, financed our brand new 2018 Subaru Outback Premium from World Subaru, 688 Shrewsbury Ave., Tinton Falls, New Jersey 07701, in June 2018. There are 3 main problems with the car, but I’ll only be addressing the most recent one. The main people in this situation is myself-[XXX], my wife-[XXX], Subaru, Owner and General Manager-Joe Wajda, Service Advisor-Rudolph J DeGaetano, and Fixed Operation Director-Lou Zuluaga. The 2018 Subaru was brought in for an oil change filter, etc., on April 19, 2021 and I went right up to the service advisor Rudolph J DeGaetano to tell him besides the oil change and filter to please take a look at this back tire wear, on the edges to about an inch in, its bald, about 3 inches then full thread all the way around the tire, Rudolph said you need an alignment, so I told him to do it with the oil change and filter, so when they were done Rudolph came back to me and I paid $165.47, with this Rudolph showed me the alignment paper and said this can’t be fixed, no mater what you do, the right front caster in red at 4.3 cannot be fixed. And as you see on the original paper, on the right front caster in red, it can’t be fixed. But at the bottom in red it states, “*ONE OR MORE VALUES ARE NOT WITHIN SPECIFICATION. TIRE WEAR, HANDLING AND SAFETY PROBLEMS MAY RESULT”. SO ITS TELLING ME THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WORLD SUBARU CANT FIX IT. I TOLD RUDOLPH THATS UNEXCEPTABLE. Texted owner and General manager Joe Wojda who turned it over to Fixed Operation Director Lou Zuluaga who in turn sent me a text, that it could be the body of the car. I explained to Rudolph that Subaru had a big problem with the new ascents, and it either would cost Subaru to much to fix or they couldn’t fix it, and subaru gave them all brand new Ascents, but what about my car we bought brand new, they expect my wife to drive an unsafe vehicle???[XXX]-[XXX] [XXX] Owner Joe Wajda-732-741-6200 Lou and Rudolph-same number PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUAN

NHTSA ID
11420326
Incident
Apr 19, 2021
Other / unspecified
Filed Nov 30, 2020

WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO REASON ON JULY 25,2019. PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND HEADED DOWN THE STREET WHEN IT WAS STARTING TO CRACK. TOKE A PICTURE WHEN I GOT TO WORK. FIRST TIME IN OVER 40 YEARS OF DRIVING TO EVER HAVE A WINDSHIELD CRACK.

NHTSA ID
11377053
Incident
Jul 25, 2019
Mileage
15,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Aug 25, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT'S WIFE OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT'S WIFE HAD NOTICED AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HUGHES SUBARU (3010 ATLANTA HWY, ATHENS, GA 30606) TO HAVE THE BRAKES INSPECTED AND THE DEALER FOUND NO FAULTS WITH THE BRAKES. AS THE FAILURE PERSISTED, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE THEY DISCOVERED A FAILURE WITH THE TWO FRONT TIRE WHEEL BEARINGS AND THEY REPLACED THE TWO FRONT BEARINGS UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER ALSO SUGGESTED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE WHEEL BEARINGS. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CHOPPED. HE STATED THAT THE TWO FRONT TIRES WERE WORSE THEN THE REAR TIRES. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE COULD LEAD TO SUSPENSION ISSUES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 26,000. *DT CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO HUGHES SUBARU TO ADDRESS CONCERNS ABOUT THE CHOPPED TIRES AND POTENTIAL SUSPENSION ISSUES. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT THE CHOPPING ON THE TIRES WERE NOT A RESULT OF FAILURE OF THE WHEEL BEARING HUBS. HE ALSO SAID THAT THERE WOULD BE NO SUSPENSION ISSUES BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. HE SAID THAT THE TIRES DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THERE WAS 6+ TREAD STILL REMAINING ON THE TIRES. *DL

NHTSA ID
11351115
Incident
Jan 1, 2020
Mileage
26,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSteeringSuspension
Filed Dec 15, 2019

BOUGHT VEHICLE USED ONE OWNER NO PREVIOUS OCCURANCES, 8000 MILES RECORDED. GRADUALLY, A RUMBLING SOUND COMES FROM FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEN TURNING WHEEL ON FLAT DIRT DRIVEWAY PREDOMINANTELY. CONCURRENT NOISE FROM DASH. AT 10,000 MILES THE CAR NOW MAKES RUMBLING NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS WHILE TRAVELING IN STRAIGHT LINE ON GOOD PAVEMENT (INAUDIBLE AT HIGH SPEEDS) SAME FRONT RIGHT LOCATION, DASH WAS REPAIRED REPLACING SPEAKER GRILLS AND STILL MAKES RATTLING NOISE AFTER FIXING. RUMBLING NOISE FROM DRIVERS LEFT FRONT AREA CHECKED BY DEALER AND REPORTED NOTHING LOOKED WRONG. NOISE CONTINUES FROM DASHBOARD. RUMBLING NOISE FROM FRONT DRIVER SIDE LEFT WHEEL/DASH AREA CONTINUES MORE OFTEN AND SEEMS TO BE INAUDIBLE AT HIGHER SPEEDS - RUMBLING NOISE UPON TURNING WHEEL AND GOING STRAIGHT ON PAVEMENT AS WELL AS ON FLAT GRADED DIRT DRIVEWAY. SUBARU DEALER SERVICE MANAGER STATES THAT HIS FIELD MANAGER HAS CONCURRED THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED ELSEWHERE AND CANNOT BE FIXED AT THIS POINT IN TIME. TAKING BACK TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM CHECK EVERYTHING MORE THOROUGHALLY, IF THEY CANNOT FIND PROBLEM, WILL TAKE TO DEALERSHIP IN ANOTHER TOWN TO CHECK, IF THEY CANNOT FIND PROBLEM WIILL EITHER SUE USING THE LEMON LAW, OR TRADE IN FOR ANOTHER MAKE OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
11289126
Incident
Dec 9, 2019
Mileage
8,200 mi
Other / unspecifiedSteeringSuspension
Filed Oct 3, 2019

BOUGHT CAR NEW, 7 MILES ON ODOMETER. TOOK CAR INTO AUTONATION SUBARU - CENTENNIAL COLORADO FOR NOISE COMPLAINT IN DRIVER-SIDE FRONT WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP. MISSING PARTS WERE NOTICED BY SHOP. SHOP SAID IT WAS COMPLETELY FIXED, BUT WE STILL HAD THIS NOISE, IT WAS JUST QUIETER. VEHICLE FELT LIKE ALIGNMENT WAS OFF, AS IT SHAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. CAR MAKES TIRE SQUEALING NOISE WHEN TURNING IN AND OUT OF PARKING SPOTS AT LOW SPEEDS. TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER SHOP MANY TIMES FOR OVER 1 YEAR. SHOP ALWAYS INSISTED NO ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED, FRONT-END WAS IN GOOD REPORT, TIRES WERE IN GOOD BALANCE, AND ROTATION WAS NOT NEEDED. SHAKING PERSISTS, 20K MILES LATER DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE IS WORN DOWN TO ALMOST STEEL ONLY ON IN-SIDE OF TIRE; ALL OTHER TIRES HAVE AT LEAST 6/32NDS ON TREAD (SEE ATTACHED PHOTO: OUT-SIDE OF TIRE IS THICK TREAT LIKE ALL OTHER TIRES, IN-SIDE TREAT IS GONE). ORIGINAL TIRES. NO MODIFICATIONS TO CAR. SERVICED ONLY AT SUBARU DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE SHAKES SO BAD NOW IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR MIGHT FALL APART. I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE HAVING MY PREGNANT WIFE DRIVE OUR ONLY VEHICLE. HELP! NOT FAIR TO BUY A NEW CAR WITH MISSING PARTS AND SAFETY ISSUES.

NHTSA ID
11265954
Incident
Sep 28, 2019
Mileage
7 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingOther / unspecified
Filed May 14, 2019
Fire reported

SMOKE ELECTRICAL SHORT ISSUE IN DRIVER SIDE MIRROR. DIAGNOSED BY SUBARU MECHANIC TO BE A SHORT IN THE APPROACH LIGHT MODULE. SIGNIFICANT SMOKE WAS EMITTED FROM MIRROR WITH BURN MARKS ON BOTTOM INSIDE MIDDLE OF MIRROR. THE CAR HAD JUST CAME TO REST IN A HOSPITAL PARKING DECK. CAR WAS REMOVED FROM DECK IN ORDER TO PREVENT FIRE HAZARD. NOTE - A 10 AMP FUSE DID BLOW WHICH CAUSED A FAILURE OF THE TPMS (TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM) AND THE REMOTE LOCK/UNLOCK SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID
11207532
Incident
May 14, 2019
Mileage
32,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Nov 6, 2018

DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL/SUSPENSION IS MAKING RATTLING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE NOISE IS WORSE WHEN HITTING UNEVEN SURFACES ON THE ROAD (LIKE A REPAIR SPOT OR TRANSITION FROM CONCRETE TO ASPHALT) . THE FRONT-END SOUNDS LOOSE, AND THERE IS A SLIGHT VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. WE HAVE TAKEN OUR CAR INTO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY SAY ALL IS OK AND THE NOISE IS AS INTENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THE CAR.

NHTSA ID
11149643
Incident
Jan 31, 2018
Mileage
300 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsOther / unspecified+1 more
Filed Aug 16, 2018

I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED A 3.6L AND THIS IS MY FIRST 3.6L 6 CYLINDER 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK! AM DISAPPOINTED WITH FEW PROBLEMS: THE FRONT SEATING IS NOT COMFORTABLE AND NOT SUPPORTIVE AT ALL, ESPECIAL IN HARD TURNS THE SEATS WILL NOT HOLD YOU IN PLACE, THE SEAT BED IS TO SHORT AND DOES NOT SUPPORT LONG LEGS IF YOU ARE OVER 5 FEET TALL. FOR SOME REASON THIS IS MY 3RD SUBARU 2ND OUTBACK THAT HAS WHEEL ALIGNMENT PROBLEM RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX!!! I ALWAYS SEEM TO BE PULLING THE STEERING-WHEEL/VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT AND MY STEERING IS ALWAYS ON A 15-20 DEGREE OFF AND IF I DON'T STEER AND PULL TO THE RIGHT THE VEHICLE DRIFTS WAY TO THE LEFT LANE AND THIS DANGERS AND A MAJOR PROBLEM. ALSO WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS WITH SPEED OVER 60 THE VEHICLE VIBRATES I TOOK IT IN FOR 4 TIRE WHEEL BALANCING AND I HOPE THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM, MIND YOU THIS IS A NEW CAR. 2018 OUTBACK HAS A PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS AND SPEEDS OVER 60 THE VEHICLE DRIFTS OR SWAYS DANGEROUSLY LEFT AND RIGHT OUT OF CONTROL AS IF SOMETHING IS PUSHING OR PUSHING THE VEHICLE LEFT AND RIGHT, I DON'T KNOW IF THE HIGHWAY VIBRATION WITH SPEEDS EXCEEDING 60 IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SWAY OR ITS A WHEEL BALANCING PROBLEM. PREVIOUSLY OWNED SUBARU'S 2011 OUTBACK, 2011 LEGACY, 2014 OUTBACK, 2018 OUTBACK WITH ONLY 290 MILES ON THE VEHICLE WITH A FULL GAS TANK I DROVE IT TILL IT DISPLAYED AND THE GAS LIGHT IS ON THAT I ONLY HAVE 40 MILES TO GO BEFORE RUNNING OUT OF GAS SO I DROVE IT TO BE PRECISE ANOTHER 12 MILES THEN STATED THAT I ONLY HAVE 30 MILES TO EMPTY AND PARKED IT WHILE I WENT TO WORK , 6 HOURS LATER TO GO HOME AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START, UNFORTUNATELY I RAN OUT OF GAS! I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WAS A GLITCH OR ITS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM BUT I WILL KEEP MY EYES ON IT.

NHTSA ID
11120423
Incident
Apr 25, 2018
Mileage
250 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed May 5, 2018

TIRE TREAD BEGAN SEPARATING FROM SIDEWALL WITHIN 1100 MILES. THE TIRE IS A BRIDGESTONE DUELER H/P 225/60 R18. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM A A SUBARU DEALER ON 03/24/2018 WITH THIS TIRE INSTALLED AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT. I NOTICED THIS PROBLEM WHEN RETURNING TO MY CAR WHILE IT WAS PARKED.

NHTSA ID
11092070
Incident
May 5, 2018
Mileage
1,122 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .